BRYN MAWR, Pa.--The Hood College field hockey team (1-0) started the 2011 season in a high note by capturing a decisive 5-1 nonconference victory over the Bryn Mawr College Owls (0-1) Friday afternoon.

Megan Cahill registered a pair of goals while Ashley Darling, Maria Smith and Rachel Gannon each notched a goal and an assist for the Blazers, who won their season-opener for the first time since the 2005 season.

Hood got on the board in the sixth minute when Darling set up Smith for Hood's first score. Then in the 17th minute, Chelsea Young fed Gannon to make it 2-0 Blazers. Darling gave the Blazers a 3-0 advantage in the 26th minute off a feed from Smith. The Blazers took that 3-0 into halftime.

Hood was quick to strike again coming out of intermission as Gannon set up Cahill just 2:11 into the second half. Bryn Mawr tallied its lone goal of the afternoon in the 51st minute off the stick of Manya Steinfeld. Hood capped the scoring in the 54th minute when Cahill found the back of the cage off an assist from Michelle Buhrman.

Ashley Stennett was credited with the victory and made six saves in 53:36 while Ying Van Schaik played the final 16:24 in the cage and turned aside one shot.

Hood outshot the Owls, 20-12, and took nine corners to Bryn Mawr's five.

Hood returns to action Thursday when the Blazers host the Goucher College Gophers at 5 p.m. at Thomas Athletic Field.